KTAMS: Poverty Threshold Rises To 237,051 TL For A Family Of Four

In a statement, KTAMS said the calculations were based on the nutrition basket provided by the Inpatient Treatment Institutions Department of the Ministry of Health and average price data supplied by the Statistics Institute.

According to the findings, the monthly basic food expenditure required for a healthy diet is calculated at 11,422.20 TL for an adult woman, 11,931 TL for an adult man, 12,504.30 TL for a child aged 15–19, and 8,091.60 TL for a child aged 4–6.

KTAMS said the current 2015=100-based Consumer Price Index basket used by the Statistics Institute has become outdated and does not fully reflect real living costs, calling for its update to be completed as soon as possible.

The union noted that inflation for May 2026 stood at 2.06%, while cumulative inflation for the first five months of the year reached 14.33%.

KTAMS stated that food and non-alcoholic beverages account for 18.54% of total household spending, according to its calculations.

It added that rising costs in education, healthcare, housing rent, fuel, electricity, communications, clothing, as well as culture, recreation and leisure, were also factored into the updated poverty threshold.

KTAMS further argued that current government policies are deepening poverty, stating that under present conditions a family of four requires 237,051 TL per month to maintain a dignified standard of living.